Lifestyle
Nonprofit of the Month: Matthew’s Light
The Hello Woodlands Nonprofit of the Month is brought to you by Randy Lovelace of Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies and highlights a local nonprofit organization that serves the Montgomery County community.
The nonprofit of the month is Matthew’s Light, a nonprofit dedicated to helping those in need regardless of faith, orientation, affiliation or other man-conceived descriptor that tries to separate and divide. With invaluable volunteers and partners, the nonprofit strives to improve the lives of those struggling with poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity. Read our interview below with Pastor Ed Reynolds, Founder of Matthew’s Light.
THE INTERVIEW
Tell us about your organization. What is the organization’s story?
Matthew’s Light was founded in 2021 when we (Pastor Ed Reynolds and his wife Diane) saw the need of the homeless community in Houston. While volunteering with our church we were given a bigger vision to help, and founded Matthew’s Light. We bring a hot meal, clothing, shoes, blankets, hygiene products, and the Love of Jesus. We bring a prayer team to pray for individual needs and to encourage a marginalized community.
How did the organization start?
We have been doing outreach work for over ten years, starting in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Providing for those in need has always been on our hearts and the purpose that God has given us. As stated above we saw a greater need than our church was providing, so we created a way to provide it.
What is your mission and why?
Our mission is to end chronic homelessness and food insecurity. We provide the supplies needed to survive on the streets while people are waiting to get housing. We also minister to those who are in addiction rehab and prison, visit those who are sick, and always show the Love of Jesus to those who are made in the image of God, which is everyone.
Who and where do you serve?
We serve in Harris and Montgomery Counties. Our biggest outreach by far is in downtown Houston close to Minute Maid Park. We serve approximately 350 souls once a month. We have also put on a “You are Loved” Valentine’s dinner for ladies in a faith-based addiction rehab facility, a Vacation Bible School in a lower income community in Montgomery County, breakfast for homeless individuals being housed a motel in Conroe, as well as partnering with other organizations to help their causes.
What programs and services do you offer?
Currently we have our outreaches, we bring food to shut-ins, provide help in finding services, and try to bridge the gap for those needing and wanting help. We have housed the homeless in our home at times to give them a temporary place to shelter, in extreme circumstances.
We do have a vision of some unique housing possibilities that we would like to implement, but funding is the key. We have yet to see the support financially that is needed to get this off the ground and going.
What makes this organization unique?
We are a 100% volunteer run organization. Every dollar goes directly to the work we do. We are fully community funded and rely upon donations from our peers to survive. While we do apply for grants, there is a lot of competition for them and we have yet to be awarded anything major. We need local businesses with a philanthropic mindset to come on board and work with us to end chronic homelessness.
How can the community get involved, volunteer, and support this organization?
People who want to help can go to www.Matthewslight.org and check out our website. We also have Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. We are doing a fundraiser right now called “The Sleepout 2 Knockout Homelessness,” that will conclude on October 20th with a sleepout. The idea is for participants to register, either by themselves or with a team, and get pledges or sponsors. On October 20th the participants will “sleep rough,” with just a blanket, sleeping bag, in a tent, etc. This can be done in your backyard, church, or business parking lot – somewhere safe. We are not trying to replicate homelessness; however, we want everyone to sleep uncomfortably for one night in solidarity with our homeless brothers and sisters. Folks can go to Sleepout2knockout.com for more info and to register.
Where can the community learn more?
Website: www.matthewslight.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/matthewslight501c3
Instagram: www.instagram.com/matthewslight2022
Email: info@matthewslight.org
About Randy Lovelace
To learn more about Randy Lovelace, his “Referral for a Cause” program to help local nonprofit organizations, and Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, please call (281) 298-0440, email rlovelace@paragoninsagencies.com or visit www.paragoninsagencies.com/woodlands.
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